The Minnesota Department of Health is warning hospitals of an increase in serious strep infections.
Invasive group A streptococcal disease can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
“You know, it’s a worrying pathogen. It’s something we’re watching very closely,” said Kathy Como-Sabetti, an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health. “We felt it was important to let clinicians know that we are seeing these cases in Minnesota.”
Two children recently died in Colorado.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also monitoring an increase in cases in several states.
Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health via Flickr
MDH is reporting at least 46 cases in Minnesota in November.
“What is concerning is that over the past month our usual number has doubled from what it tends to be,” Como-Sabetti said.
Group A strep is a bacteria that usually causes strep throat, but invasive group A strep can cause more serious problems.
“It can cause a lot of different symptoms depending on where the bacteria infects. People get things like necrotizing fasciitis, which is flesh-eating bacteria. That’s where you talk about losing limbs. Septic shock is the other thing we’re worried about with group A strep and that’s where the blood pressure drops and we have multi-organ failure. It can also be fatal in some cases,” Como-Sabetti said.
Twin Cities hospitals told 5 EYEWITNESS News they are monitoring the situation.
“I know there have been cases of invasive strep in the Twin Cities,” said Dr. Stacene Maroushek, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Hennepin Healthcare.
Dr. Maroushek said she hasn’t personally seen any cases of invasive group A strep so far this season.
She noted that an increase in cases could be linked to an increase in respiratory disease in general, as people who have recently been sick may be more susceptible to bacterial infection.
“Let’s say you have a really bad sore throat that’s really inflamed by the flu or by COVID, then these bacteria can get into your bloodstream or into your lungs or deeper into your throat,” Maroushek explained. “Children and older people have weaker immune systems, so they tend to be at higher risk for these things, especially if they’ve already been weakened by some of these respiratory viruses that are circulating.”
She urges people to look for warning signs, such as:
– a fever that goes away but returns a few days later.
Excessive weakness or dizziness.
– and painful, bright red skin.
If you experience symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for treatment.
“It’s very easy to kill with antibiotics, just recognize it and treat it urgently and appropriately,” Maroushek said.
MDH told 5 EYEWITNESS News that there have been 272 cases of invasive group A strep in Minnesota so far this year, compared to 212 for all of last year.
Yet the numbers are currently not as high as some pre-pandemic years. The state recorded 359 cases in 2017, 367 in 2018 and 326 in 2019, according to MDH.
A spokesperson said there is currently no clear link between the cases in Minnesota.
We are concerned, so we are monitoring this closely. We’ve been through this in the past but, like we have in the past, we want to watch closely and see if we can better understand why this is happening,” Como-Sabetti said.
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